Residence Hall Visitation Hours To Expand In Fall 2002

Baylor University's department of campus living and learning today announced the expansion of visitation hours in Baylor's residence halls, beginning with the fall 2002 semester.

The proposed policy revisions were approved this month, following discussions with student advisory groups and Baylor administrators.

Current visitation hours in Collins, Kokernot, Martin, North Russell, Penland and South Russell halls are from 1 to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday only. Visitation hours in Alexander, Allen, Brooks, Dawson and Memorial are from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday and from 1 to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. University apartment visitation hours are from 6 to 10:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

The approved revisions will expand visitation hours for all residence halls from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 1 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Expanded hours for university apartments will be from noon to midnight on Saturday and Sunday.

Frank Shushok, Baylor's associate dean for campus living and learning, said while visitation hours are "clearly a student satisfaction issue," expansion of those hours is vital to the accessibility and creation of learning communities, a major initiative in Baylor 2012, the university's 10-year vision.

"As we pursue opportunities to have residence halls partner with academic programs, informal interaction between students is important to the effectiveness of living-learning centers," he said.

Research into the expansion centered on universities comparable to Baylor's size and mission, such as Notre Dame, Furman and Wake Forest. In addition, focus groups suggested that Baylor's current visitation structure was a critical barrier to improving resident retention rates and recruiting resident assistants, who now are called community leaders.

Shushok said that the expansion likely will increase the time that students live in Baylor residence halls, which offer greater opportunity for accountability and learning.

"The current pattern is for students to move off-campus into apartments where Baylor's values and influence are not intentional," he said. "Moreover, we will be pursuing a renewed effort to provide residential students opportunities to pursue personal spiritual formation, interact with resident chaplains and explore their God-given calling. I believe the vast majority of students will make honorable choices."